No tarsier hurt in Bohol quake

MANILA, Philippines – The famed tarsiers of Bohol are safe and sound after a 7.2-magnitude earthquake hit the province.

Netizens over Twitter expressed their worry for the smallest primates in the world after learning that the earthquake’s epicenter occurred in Bohol. Some pointed out that tarsiers seemed to be frail animals, easily stressed by a change in habitat.

But the Philippine Tarsier Foundation told INQUIRER.net that the tarsiers in their Corella sanctuary remained safe, especially since they were in an open environment.

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“Animals have a natural tendency to know what they should do, especially [when it comes to natural disasters],” foundation program manager Joannie Mary Cabillo said in a phone interview.

Cabillo said Corella, a fifth class municipality in Bohol, relatively spared from the devastation of the strong tremor because they did not have much infrastructure.

She said their office only experienced minor damages such as shattered glass.